"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
One thousand nine hundred ninety something years after Christ
The price, won't suffice, in the end
Your man is gone
You're broken down
Who's around to hold your hand
You're sleeping around, you're sleeping around again
You, almost
Know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything
Everything knows you
You're hard, she's funny
She likes to count your money
You squeeze, say please
She's got you on your knees
You joker, you soaker
She's sleeping with your chauffeur
He'll drive her, he'll drive her
Places you don't go
You, almost
Know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything
Everything knows
What you don't know is just how much you don't know
What you don't know is just how much you don't know
What you don't know, I never shot the president, no
You tried, lied
Gonna whip your backside
Down to the floor, out the door
Don't come around here no more
What your selling I ain't buying
What you talkin' bitch stop lying
I swear, I could care
Now I gotta go fix my hair
You, almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows
I never shot the president, no
The price, won't suffice, in the end
Your man is gone
You're broken down
Who's around to hold your hand
You're sleeping around, you're sleeping around again
You, almost
Know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything
Everything knows you
You're hard, she's funny
She likes to count your money
You squeeze, say please
She's got you on your knees
You joker, you soaker
She's sleeping with your chauffeur
He'll drive her, he'll drive her
Places you don't go
You, almost
Know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything
Everything knows
What you don't know is just how much you don't know
What you don't know is just how much you don't know
What you don't know, I never shot the president, no
You tried, lied
Gonna whip your backside
Down to the floor, out the door
Don't come around here no more
What your selling I ain't buying
What you talkin' bitch stop lying
I swear, I could care
Now I gotta go fix my hair
You, almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows you
Almost, know everything, everything knows
I never shot the president, no
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.